St. Nicholas Hospital Encourages Awareness on Stroke Risks and Symptoms

Sheboygan, Wis.It is expected that nearly 795,000 people in the United States will have a stroke this year, yet up to 80% of strokes are preventable.

A stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain is blocked or bursts. Without blood and the oxygen it carries, part of the brain starts to die. The part of the body controlled by the damaged area of the brain can't work properly.

Brain damage can begin within minutes, so it is important to know the symptoms of stroke and act fast.

The National Stroke Association uses the F.A.S.T. method for recognizing symptoms

F = FACE Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A = ARMS Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S = SPEECH Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is speech slurred? Can the person repeat the sentence correctly?

T = TIME If you observe any of these signs, it's time to call 9-1-1. Remember, when a stroke occurs brain cells begin to dietime is of the essence.

Act F.A.S.T. if you notice sudden symptoms such as numbness, or weakness in the face, arm or leg, confusion, trouble speaking, seeing, or walking, dizziness, loss of balance, and/or severe headache.

Everyone has some stroke risk. Some risk factors are beyond your control, including being over age 55, being a male (stroke is more common in men than women at younger ages, but more women experience strokes at older ages and more women than men die from stroke), being African-American, having diabetes, and having a family history of stroke.

Stroke can be caused by a number of manageable risk factors, including: high blood pressure, weight control, high cholesterol, alcohol consumption, smoking, and atrial fibrillation. If you have one of these risks, it is even more important that you learn about the lifestyle and medical changes you can make to prevent a stroke.

It's important to know your cholesterol number as this is one of the preventable risks for stroke. High cholesterol can indirectly increase stroke risk by putting you at greater risk of heart diseasean important stroke risk factor. Lowering your cholesterol may help reduce your stroke risk.

If it's high, you can work with you physician to control it through diet and exercise and some individuals may require medication.

St. Nicholas Hospital will be offering a Cholesterol-Lipid/Glucose Screening to the community on Tuesday, May 18, from 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., in the Francis Room at the Hospital.

Learn your risks with this simple finger stick screening. The fee is $25. This full lipid profile includes cholesterol, HDL, calc. LDL, and triglycerides; and glucose. A 12-hour fast is recommended for accurate results. Registration is required. For information about the screening or to register, call 920/459-4636 or [click here]

About St. Nicholas HospitalSt. Nicholas Hospital is the recipient of the 2009/2010 HealthGrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award™. St. Nicholas Hospital is rated among the Nation's top 5% of hospitals for patient experience and one of only 211 facilities in the country to achieve this distinction two years in a row.

St. Nicholas Hospital is a non-profit hospital sponsored by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis located at 3100 Superior Avenue, Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Their mission and vision is to provide family-centered, compassionate care without regard for race, creed, or ability to pay. This is achieved through the core values of respect, care, competence, and joy.